With her Fantasy Red Cardi by Katherine Foster (see prior posts) behind her and her Among the Wildflowers by Sasha Ball Rives on hold, Catherine turns to two bits of production knitting. She is working on Failyn Fox Cowl by Heidi May in Lion Brand Thick and Quck for a friend's child and the Chain Mail Hood and Cowl offered by the Utah Shakespeare Festival (Chain Mail Techniques). With a re-envisioned yarn choice (Patons Metallic in Pewter), Catherine is making this for a local production of Plays in the Park for the play TheUnprincess.

Margaret talks about Laura Nelkin's Beaded Waves Cuff and why Margaret sometimes like buying a kit instead of gatherine various elements of a project herself.

Brainy Thing: Kinesthetic Learning

The last element of the VAK (Visual Auditory Kinesthetic) learning style discussion (but not the end of the topic itself), Margaret shares general and personal experiences of learners who take in information kinesthetically.

Behind the Redwood Curtain

Catherine talks about the Natural Fiber Fair which is held in Arcata, CA.

Knitting Tip

Margaret shares that designers (Laura Nelkin, for example) and yarn companies often have wonderful tutorials on their sites.

Margaret is continuing her exploration of cotton sock yarns. This week she talks about Cascade Fixation using the Fixation Ankle Sock pattern by Dawn Friske or Knitamazoo. Margaret also re-crocheted the Quotidian or Flapper Bucket Hat by the Stitch Diva to make it just a little larger to accommodate her Mom's bun.

Margaret talks about how much she learned from the Multnomah Shawl by Kate Ray while Catherine talks about tension for crocheting the Misty Rose by Kim Camera. She's also working on the Among the Wild Flowers by Sasha Ball Reeves.

Margaret shares some tips from the Book "Organizing for the Right Brain" and mentions Jill Bolte Taylor's Ted Talk "Stroke of Insight."

Catherine talks about the Humboldt Marten, who people are trying to get on the Endangered Species List.

We correct an error about using a a larger needle to creat a stretchier cast-on and Catherine shares a tip about starting a busy day with a little knitting to find peace.

Catherine is using her Fantasy Red Cardi by Katherine Foster as her carry along knitting project and has just started a crochet project: Dogwood Scarf by Suzann Thompson. Margaret has been experimenting with making samples of different ways to top off the top of a simple hat.

Catherine reports on a study done by Dr. Arne May who found that teaching people to juggle grew their brain cells. She asks, can knitting and crochet do the same thing?

Margaret talks about clams, clamming and Clam Beach, California.

Margaret suggests that people try different tools and is now experimenting with 12 inch and 9 inch knitting needles.

Brainy Stuff Starts at 22:00 and Behind the Redwood Curtain begins at 34:07

Margaret tells what she's been learning from Kristen Omdahl's Seamless Crochet Shawl where she tested out the Ninja Star Pattern with the AllHemp6 DK yarn. She likes the pattern and the yarn but not with each other.

Catherine talks about her progress on her projects: Meadowlark Shibori Jacket by Gina Wilde and Clapo-Ktus by Loredana Gianferri and Some Pig washcloth by Eimly Guise

In Part I of why we put down one project and start the other in the Brainy Part, Margaret talks about Novelty and how it impacts our brain. Then Catherine talks about the Godwit bird and the Zen Center in Arcata.

Finally Margaret suggests trying different yarns and being aware that you might to use different tension and even different tensioning hand postures.

Catherine talks about her progress on the Meadowlark Shibori Jacket by Gina Wilde out of Alchemy yarn and her new project Clapo-Ktus by Loredana Gianferri in a beloved skein of Goth Sock. Margaret kind of winged it with a long, narrow drop stitch scarf out of Recycled Sari Silk.

Then in the Brainy segment, Catherine talks about how meditation can actually increase the grey matter in your brain and reduce the size and therefore the reactivity of the amygdala. She also shares information on a program called Knitting Behind Bars.

Margaret describes the logging history of the redwoods and current efforts to be more sustainable.

Catherine's knitting tip is change up needle sizes when you're knitting -- have one project on larger needles and another on smaller.

Brainy part starts at 17:50 and Behind the Redwood Curtain begins at 32:20.

Margaret talks about her adaptation of the Sweet November crocheted scarf and Catherine gives updates on her Meadowlark Shibori jacket and Sock Yarn Blanket.

Margaret talks about the once popular Right- and Left-brain theory and how current brain scientists see those terms as metaphors. She mentions that knitters sometimes identify as Right- or Left-brained.

Catherine talks about Blue Ox Millworks in Eureka, CA which uses old fashioned methods to make replicas of pieces for residents and business. It has expanded to have a school and veterans' services.

Catherine also suggests knitters have a number of cast-ons and bind-offs to choose from when they knit.

Brainy Stuff starts at 21:47 and Behind the Redwood Curtain begins at 38.:36.

Catherine shares what she's learned from her knitting of the cowel she completed and her adventures with the Meadowlark Shibori Jacket. Margaret talks about a Knit-a-long she began many years ago sponsored by Webs Yarn Company that featured tree motifs from Barbara Walker

Today's question is how does Knitting qualifies as an engaged mental activity. The answer lies in the various brain lobes and brain waves and the location and the wave activity changes depending on what you do including knitting, watching TV, reading or listening to audio books.

In Behind the Redwood Curtain, Catherine talks about the Arts Alive events in Arcata and Eureka, CA.

The knitting tip this episode is from Josh Bennet who says that if you want long lasting garments, that seaming the pieces is your best bet and that 1x1 ribbing is more durable than other kinds